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Showing posts from June 13, 2015


Birth of Dronacharya – Story of Birth of Drona in the Mahabharata

The birth of Dronacharya, the Guru of the Pandavas and Kauravas in the Mahabharata, is very interesting. It would not be wrong to say that Dronacharya is the first test tube baby in the world. Rishi Bharadwaj is the father of Dronacharya and mother is an Apsara name Krithaji. One evening Rishi Bharadwaj was getting ready to do his evening prayers. He went to the Ganga River to take his usual bath but was amazed to find a beautiful woman bathing at his usual spot in the river. On seeing Rishi Bharadwaja, the beautiful Apsara Krithaji got out of the Ganga River wearing a single loin cloth. Rishi Bharadwaja was moved by the heavenly beauty of the Apsara. Suddenly the most unthinkable happened - Apsara Krithaji slipped on the banks of the river and the loin cloth slipped from her body. Rishi Bharadwaja was overpowered by the moment and he involuntarily emitted his semen. The Rishi collected this sperm in a clay pot and stored it in a dark place in his Ashram. Dro

Seshadri – The name of Tirumala Hill in Dwapara Yuga

In different Hindu yugas, the Tirumala Hill is known by different names. It is known as Seshadri in Dwapara Yuga – the second of the four yugas. Tirupati Balaji Temple is located atop Tirumala Hill. Seshadri is named after Adishesha – the divine serpent on whom Vishnu rests. Legend has it that once Vayu – the wind God – reached Vaikunta to meet Vishnu. But as Vishnu was taking rest, Adisesha did not allow Vayu to meet Vishnu. Vayu was not ready to budge and wanted to meet Vishnu. Soon a fight ensued and Vishnu appeared before them. Still both Vayu and Adishesha continued the argument that one was better than the other. Finally, Vishnu said that Sesha should hold the Ananda Mountain and Vayu should try to dislodge it. Whoever wins will be the stronger. Sesha held the Ananda Mountain tight by coiling around it and Vayu tried to displace it. The fight continued for several days. Vayu used all his might to blow away the mountain but Sesha held it to its place.

Ayilyam Vratam – Ayilya Nakshatra Vrata for Nagas to overcome Naga Dosha

Ayilyam or Ashlesha is one among the 27 birth starts or Nakshatra. It is chosen by Hindus to observe Vrat dedicated to Nagas or Snakes – the serpent gods. Ayilyam Vratam is popularly practiced in South India and is performed to overcome Naga Dosha. Those people who do not fast on the day visit Naga temples. Ayilya Vratam begins on the previous day – the day before the Ayilyam nakashtra falls. Non-vegetarian food is totally avoided on the previous day and for next two days. On the Ayilyam Nakshatra day many people opt for complete fast. Those observing partial fast eat fruits or take simple food. The fast ends on the next day morning with prayers at a Shiva Temple . The fast is broken by drinking theertham (holy water from Shiva temple). The mantra that can be chanted on the fasting day is ‘Om Namah Shivaya.’ If you visit Naga temples, or worship Nag murtis, then perform pradakshina five times.

Brihadeshwara Temple Online Virtual Tour – 360 degree View of Tanjavur Brihadeeshwara Temple

An architectural gem, Thanjavur Brihadeshwara Temple was built during the reign of Chola King Rajaraja I (985 – 1016 AD). The temple is noted for a large murti (idol) of Nandi, the second largest in India . Another noteworthy feature of the temple is the Vimana Tower nearly 65 m high crowned with a huge cupola carved from a single boulder and weighs over 80 tonnes. Now Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation and Department of Tourism is providing an online virtual tour of Tanjavur Brihadeeshwara Temple . In the virtual tour you can view a 360 degree panoramic view of the temple from 13 different areas inside and outside the temple. You can view the Virtual Tour of Thanjavur Brihadeshwara Temple here in this link –   Virtual Tour of Thanjavur Brihadeshwara Temple. If the above link is not working you try the online vritual tour here in this website. Note: Please patiently wait for the image to upload to perform the virtual tour. It’s really wonderful.

Punyaham

Punyaham is the word mainly used to refer to holy water or the water that has been sanctified by mantras. It is mainly used for purification purposes. Some scholars are also of the view that the word, Punyaham means sacred day or an auspicious time blessed for a particular deed or karma. Surya, or the Hindu Sun God, is invoked and propitiated for Punyaham. The word Punyaham has different meaning for different communities – for example Punyaham is mostly associated with purification ceremony among Hindus in Kerala. For some communities Punyaham is performed for the successful completion of karma with the help of gods and goddesses. In some other communities in South India , Punyaham ceremony is part of funeral rituals.